Time controlled mechanism



Dec. 24, 1935. R w JOHNSON 2,025,511

TIME CONTROLLED MECHANI SM (7 INVENTOR. a 72 W M 4 fiza w M 7n27/Mv-W A TTORNEYi Dec. 24, 1935. R. w, JQHNgQN 2,025,511

TXME CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed April ll, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

fizz $1M, M WM 7 ATTORNEY} Dec. 24, 1935.. R w JOHNSON TIME CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed April 11, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEZS Dec. 24, 1935.. w JOHNSON TIME CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed April 11, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 615M $40M, gg, m WWW raw A TTGRNE 31$ Dec. 24, 1935. R. w. JOHNSON TIME CONTROLLED MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheath Filed. April ll, 1952 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY? Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic time controlled mechanism adapted for the regulation of electric switches, valves or other control means and capable of easy installation on various types of equipment such as permanent waving machines, cleaning and dyeing operations, therapeutic X-ray and violet ray machines, baking ovens, incinerators, water softeners, and in fact, wherever it is desirable to have the operation of the m instrumentality accurately timed.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this character wherein the clock work is relieved of the heavy burden of actuating the instrumentalities controlled and is only required to release a latch whereupon springs or other actuators previously energized by hand are released and allowed to actuate the valve, switch, or other control means.

Another important object of the invention is to so organize the structure that the main shaft, to which the setting knob is attached, functions to close the switch or open the valve, as the case may be, and also to trip the latch utilized to hold the switch closed or the valve open. Furthermore, the main shaft is connected to the clock work through a friction connection and in such manner that while the clock work is efiective to drive the shaft and cause it to trip the latch at the proper time, the shaft may be turned'manually to trip the latch at any time without unwinding the main spring of the clock. The shaft, when turned to set the mechanism, is, when turned in such direction that it funcsio is to close the switch or open the valve, as the case may be, operates also to maintain the main spring of the clockwork properly wound and does this positively, that is, independently of the friction connection. This has the advantage of relieving the friction connection of the comparefi tively heavy duty of winding the main spring and leaves to it the sole duty of turning the shaft to trip the latch. Only a light torque is required to trip the latch.

Among the other objects of the invention are to provide an improved form or switch, an improved term of indicator, and in general a struc' ture simple and durable as well reliable and accurate in operation and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will he hereinafter more fully described and particularly point- 55 ed out in the appended claims, reference had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure l is a view illustrating one embodiment of the invention, the view being taken in section on line !i of Figure 2 with parts shown in ele- 5 vation for the sake of illustration and with the casing removed;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on 10 lines 33 and l-l, respectively, of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view of the device in rear elevation, the rear plate of the casing being removed;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on line 6--6 of Figures 1;

Figure 7 is a view in elevation looking toward the clock as indicated by the line l-l of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation and showing another embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 9 is a view in rear elevation of the device shown in Figure 8, the rear plate of the casing being removed.

In the following description of the present invention and in the appended claims, the terms control means or control device are used to generically designate the electric switch, the valve, or the other instrumentality whose action is to be regulated. The present invention proposes to regulate the action of such a control means by combining therewith some mechanism for varying its action, or more particularly some means which opens or closes the valve or switch. Organized with this action varying means is a latch which functions to hold the valve open or the switch closed and the latch itself is under the control of time controlled mechanism which functions-to trip the latch at the proper time and thereby permit the switch to be opened or the valve to be closed. The time controlled mechanism and the manner in which it is organized with the latch and with the action varying means involves features of special novelty and in the following description the time controlled mech anism will first be described.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l desighates the dial which is fitted flush up against and secured to the front panel 2. Front panel 2 is appropriately connected with the rear panel {3 and with the frame plates 8 and 9 of a clock work C in any suitablemanner as, for example, by means of posts 5 and suitable fastening devices, the details of which are no part of the present invention. The front panel 2 may he of metal but the rear panel is preierably of insulating material The frame plates 8 and 9 of the clock work C are connected by posts 50. The frame plate 8 is further fastened to the front panel 2 by means of screws ii and nuts l2, there being spacing collars. I3 encircling the screws ii and interposed between the frame plate 8 and the front panel 2.

A main shaft i5 extends through an opening in the dial plate i and front panel 2 and is rotatably supported in bearings provided therefor on the frame plates 8 and 9. The shaft is projects throughthe rear panel 3 and the rearwardly projecting portion is utilized for controlling the opening and closing of the switch or valve as will hereinafter more fully appear. The forward end of the main shaft has a flanged sleeve [6 secured thereto. On this sleeve a knob l? is fitted and secured. A pointer or indicator i8 is disposed rearwardly of the knob and is secured to the flange of the sleeve It by means of screws 89 and a clamping plate 28, the clamping plate engaging the hub of the pointer or indicator, which hub encircles and is partially received in a seat 22 provided therefor in the flange of the sleeve. This construction facilitates proper setting or adjustment of the pointer. The indicator travels over a scale 23 consisting of graduations and numerals indicative of time, the space between adjacent graduations representing one minute and five minute intervals being designated by numerals, as shown in Figure 2.

The clock work or time controlling means includes a sleeve 3E3 fitted on the shaft l5 and having a portion iii to which the inner end of the clock spring 32 is connected. The clock spring is coiled in the usual fashion and has its other end connected as at 33 to one of the posts ill (see Figure 4). The sleeve 38 is of stepped formation (see Figure 1) and on the step 35 thereof a large gear wheel SS'and its wear plate 3? are loosely fitted. The gear wheel 35 abuts a ratchet 38 which is integral with thesleeve 30. As shown in Figure 6, pawls 39 are pivoted on the gear wheel 38 and are urged into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 38 by springs to. A radial pin it extends through a diametrical opening provided in the shaft and projects beyond the periphery of the shaft. The pin ll has a tight or binding fit in its openings; One end of the pin is designed and positioned to coact with a projection 52 formed rigid with or rigidly connected to the ratchet wheel and extending longitudinally therefrom. With this arrangement it will be seen that when the shaft 15 is turned in one direction the pin ti will engage the projections #52, if the clock needs winding, and turn the ratchet wheel 38, thereby also turning the sleeve and winding up the spring 32. The gear wheel 38 remains stationary since the teeth of the ratchet click under and past its pawls 39 and'inasmuch as this slight drag is not sufficient to overcome the action of the reduction gear train of which the gear 36 is an element. This reduction gear train is of conventional construction and is indicated generally at M and has the conventional escapement t5 associated therewith.

A friction or slip connection is provided between the sleeve 30 and the shaft 15. In the construction shown, this friction connection consists of a friction washer interposed between the outer face of the ratchet wheel 88 and the pin 4| and a'coil spring 5! interposed between the other end of the sleeve and a washer 52, which is backed up by an integral flange 53 formed on aoeasii the shaft l5. The'spring Si is under sufficient compression to set up such frictional engagement between the parts as to cause the clock work, when it is running, to act through the sleeve 3!) to rotate theshaft l5 with sufficient power to enable it to trip the latching mechanism at the proper time as will presently be described. The motion is properly timed since, when the clock is running, the main spring 32 of the clock work turns the sleeve 36 in such direction that the teeth of the ratchet wheel 38 act through the pawls 39 toturn the gear wheel 36 whose motion is constrained and regulated by the escapement controlled gear train. This friction connection does, however, provide for the slippage desirable when it is desired to manually open the switch or similarly close the valve and when, as incident to this operation, the shaft l5 turned back to its open or zero position. Due to the slippage, this return of the shaft 55 to its zero position is efiected without unwinding the spring 32 or placing any wearing or severe strain on any parts of the device.

The means for varying the action of the control means, irrespective of whether such be a switch or a valve, in the present embodiments 0f the invention, comprises a swingable member in the form of a metal plate, the upper portion of which is provided with apertured ears 5i connected by means of a pivot pin 82 with a U-shaped supporting bracket 63 secured to the panel 3.

The swingable member 60 is biased or urged to one position by meansof a coil spring 'il which encircles the stud 72 carried by the panel and extends through an opening in the member 60. The spring H is under compression and its tendency to expand urges the member 66 outwardly from the rear panel 3. The headlfi of the stud limits the extent to which the carrier may swing under the influence of the spring.

As shown in Figures 1, 5, 8 and 9, a roller i5 is mounted on one end of a pin '16 which extends through a transverse opening provided in the rear end portion of the shaft l5. The roller 75 is designed to coact with the inclined edge of a cam if provided on a lever ls which is pivoted as at 78 on the member 60. When the knob il is turned in a counter clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, the shaft is similarly turned but the motion of the shaft'is clockwise as viewed in Figure 5 and theroller=l5 rides over theinclined edge of the cam ii and pushes the member 69 in toward the. panel 3 to close the switch or open the valve, as will be pointed out more in detail hereinafter. When the member 60 is swung to closed position it is latched in such position by means of a latch 80 pivoted as at 8! on a mounting stud 32 carried by the panel 3 and having a latching hook or shoulder 83 engageable with a cooperable latching portion 8d of the carrier plate. position by means of a spring member 85 secured to the panel 3 and'bearing against an arm 85 of the latching member. The lever 18 is biased by spring 87 to a position out of the path of movement of the roller 15 thereby precluding interference or unnecessary engagement between the roller and the cam T! when the device is turned ofi manually. However, when the switch is open the latch 80 is held down by the pin 16 which in turn presses against the arm of the lever 18 to swing the lever into such position that its cam 1! lies in the path of the roller. 15. Not until the latch 86 snaps into engaged position is the The latch is biased to latching lever '18 freed to move under the influence of its spring 81.

The dial I is provided with a slot or window 99 and-a corresponding opening is formed in the front'panei 2. Through this slot or window'suitable indicia, such as On and Off or Opened andfclosed, is displayed depending upon the position of the switch or valve as the case may be. This indicia is applied to or impressed on an indicator plate 9| having an arm 92 pivoted as at 93 on the rear of the frontpanel. The indicator also has an angular extension or second arm 94 provided with an outturned and slotted lug 95 which is interfltted with the end 96 of an actuating arm 91. The arm 91 is generally of U-shape and is secured at one end to the member 60 so thatthis arm 91 moves with member 60 and imparts corresponding movement to the indicator.

The indicator is also employed to impart a starting movement to the clock and for this pur pose has a light spring finger or brush I- fastened thereto and adapted to give an initial kick to the balance wheel of the clock when the switch is moved to closed position.

The structurethus far described is common to both embodiments of the invention. Figures 1 and 5 illustrate an electric switch organized with the mechanism just described. As shown in these figures, the lower end of the member Ed has a transversely disposed insulating bar M secured thereto. This insulating bar 62 provides the immediate mounting for the movable or bridging contacts of the switch. These movable contacts are designated at 65 and consist of short strips of metal provided with silver con tact heads or buttons 86. Shanks 6! of noncircular cross section are suitably secured to the insulating bar 64 and are slidably interiitted with correspondingly formed openings in the strips 65. Springs 58 encircle the shanks '91 and bear against the bar 64 at one end and against the strips 65 at their other ends. Heads 61' at the outer ends of the shanks engage the bar 6% to limit the inward movement of the shanks.

This manner of mounting the contact strips permits them to yield or float sufficiently to insure good contact in the closed position of the switch. In the closed position of the switch the contact buttons 66 engage similarly fixed contacts Ill which are fastened to the panel 3.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that when the knob I! is turned the roller 15 will be rotated and will coact with the cam 11 to swing the member 69 inwardly until the latch 80 snaps into engagement with the latch engaging portion 84 of the member 50. At this time the contacts 66 will engage the contacts and the switch will be closed. The type of switch illustrated has all of the desirable characteristics of a motor starting switch and preferably has silver contacts incorporated in it. The use of such a switch is made possible by virtue of the fact that the rotation of the shaft I5 closes the switch so rapidly as to avoid the necessity of using a snap action type of switch.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9, the time controlled mechanism, action varying means and latch are employed to regulate the action of a valve indicated generally by the reference character V. The valve V shown is a typical gas valve and has the usual casing I05 provided with a ported partition I96 with which the valve I01 coacts. A spring 498 biases the valve to closed position. The valve is equipped with a stem I09 passing through a stufling box III) and up into a casing III. The rear panel 3 is provided with a mounting bracket H2 on which a bell crank lever H3 is fulcrumed. One arm of this lever I I3 has wiping engagement with the valve stem 09, whereas the swingable member 69 has wiping engagement with the other arm of this lever H3. With this embodiment of the invention, when the knob I1 is turned in the proper direction the roller will coact with 1 the cam 11 to swing the member 69 inwardly. This rocks the bell crank lever I I3 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8 and causes its lower arm to depress the stem I09 and open the valve. The latch 80 coacts with the member 69 15 to hold the valve open until after the expiration of the time selected, whereupon the pin 16 trips the latch 30 and the spring II swings the plate 50 outwardly and allows the spring I08 to close its valve. 20

It is to be understood that in both embodiments of the invention, the main spring 32 and the winding mechanism consisting of the shaft 55 and pins 4i and 42 are so designed that when the shaft I5 is turned to set the mechanism for any particular time the spring is wound up sufficiently to operate the mechanism through such time period. If the knob II' is turned back to zero to shut off the device before the expiration of such time then the pin 42 will not be immediately engaged by the pin 4! when the device is next set. There will be suflicient clearance or lost motion at such a time to allow for the previous winding up of the spring that had not been utilized.

While I have shown two embodiments of the invention it is to be understood that the embodiments selected are merely examples, that is, are selected for the purposes of illustration and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. Time controlled mechanism comprising an actuating member, a latch therefor, a trip for said latch, a shaft for operating said trip when turned in one direction, a clockwork having a main spring abutment means for winding the main spring of said clockwork from said shaft 5U when said shaft is turned in one direction, and a friction coupling between the clockwork and the shaft sumciently tight so that the clockwork may drlve the shaft to actuate said trip and sumciently loose so that said shaft is prevented from winding the main spring unless said abutment means becomes effective.

2. Time controlled mechanism for regulating the action of a control device and comprising means for varying the action of said control device, a latch for holding said means in one position, a manually rotatable shaft having a trip for releasing said'latch, a clockwork having a main spring, a friction coupling between the clockwork and the shaft sufiiciently tight so that the clockwork may drive the shaft in one direction and to actuate said trip, and positive interengaging means between the shaft and the clockwork and effective to maintain the main spring of the clockwork properly wound upon. turning of the shaft in the opposite direction, said coupling being sufficiently loose so that said shaft is prevented from winding said main spring unless saidinterengaging means becomes effective.

3. Time controlled mechanism comprising an actuating member, a latch therefor, a trip for the latch, a shaft for operating said trip when it turns in one direction, a clockwork having a main spring, interengageable pins between the shaft and the clockwork eflective when the shaft is turned in one direction to maintain the main spring of said clockwork wound, and a friction coupling between the clockwork and the shaft sufllciently tight so that the clockwork may drive the shaft to actuate said trip and sumciently loose so that said shaft is prevented from winding said main spring unless said inter-engaging pins become eifective.

4. Time controlled mechanism comprising a latch, a rotatable shaft, a trip operated by the shaft for releasing the latch, a sleeve on said shaft, a main spring having one end connected to said sleeve, a friction coupling between said sleeve and said shaft sufiiciently tight so that said main spring in unwinding will rotate the shaft to operatethe trip, a gear train, an escapement controlling said gear train, a pawl and ratchet connection between said gear train and said sleeve, and positive inter-engaging means between said shaft and said sleeve whereby said shaft when rotated in one direction will operate positively to maintain said spring adequately wound, said coupling being sumciently loose so that said shaft is prevented from rotating said sleeve unless said interengaging means becomes eifective.

5. Time controlled mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a clockwork, a friction coupling between the clockwork and the shaft, whereby the shaft is rotated from the clockwork, an actuating member supported for swinging movement longitudinally of the shaft, a roller carried by the shaft adjacent the actuating member, a

' shiftable cam mounted on the actuating member and cooperable with said roller when in one position to swing the actuating member to one poaoaaeri sition, means for biasing the cam to a position out oi the path of movement of the roller, a

latch cooperable with the actuating member to releasably secure it in mid one position and acting when. released to position said cam in the 5 path of movement of the roller, and a trip connected with the shaft and cooperable withfthe latch, upon turning of the shaft in one direction by the clockwork to release the same.

6. Time controlled mechanism comprising Ta rotatable shaft, a clockwork, a friction'fcoupling between the clockwork and the shaft" whereby the shaft is rotated from the clockworklan actuating member supported for swinging v movement longitudinally of the shaftsaid actuating member having ,an opening through which the shaft extends, a cam actuating projection secured to the shaft, a cam mounted on the actuating member and with which said projection coacts to swing the actuating member when the g9 shaftis turned in one direction, a latch coacting with the actuating member to releasably secure it in position and a trip connected with the shaft and cooperable with the latch upon turning of the shaft in the opposite direction by the g clockwork, to release the latch.

7. Time controlled mechanism comprising a latch, a trip for releasing the latch, a shaft connected to the trip for operating the same, a clockwork, a friction connection between the 39 clockwork and shaft sufiiciently tight so that the clockwork may turn the shaft in one direction and for actuating the trip, and a lost motion clutch between the shaft and the clockwork for winding up the clockwork when the shaft is 35 turned in an opposite direction, said friction connection being sufiiciently loose so that said shaft is prevented from winding up the clockwork unless said clutch becomes efiective.

ROY w. JOHNSON. 4o 

